DENVER — Christian Holmes was dressed for the occasion. With his Chatfield Chargers T-shirt, plaid team shorts, black socks with a red stripe and brand new orange shoes, the sophomore and No. 1 singles player was ready for the 5A state boys’ tennis tournament.

More than the wardrobe, however, Holmes had the mental makeup to tackle the challenges he faced at Gates Tennis Center on Oct. 13.

PARKER — The 11th-seeded Dakota Ridge Lady Eagles (13-8-0) knew a run at the 5A state championships wouldn’t be easy, especially if it meant battling their adversary — sixth-seeded Legend (16-5-1), which is exactly what happened.

Austin Vancil certainly wasn’t expecting it. Most likely not too many people were.

“Not at all,” Vancil said.

But the Dakota Ridge sophomore certainly was capable of winning the 5A Jeffco League cross country championship, and he did. Vancil ran the Clement Park course on Oct. 13 in 16 minutes, 24 seconds, holding off Arvada West’s Colin Berndt by six seconds. It helped the Eagles to a second-place team finish, behind A-West with 59 points. The Wildcats scored 38.

BAILEY — For years, Platte Canyon has been running roughshod over opposing defenses out of its unique Double Wing-T. The trend continues in 2016, as Front Range Christian will attest after absorbing a 46-12 Foothills League loss. Platte Canyon rolled up 428 yards on the ground in the Oct. 8 contest.

LAKEWOOD — The true character of a team can be tested by how it overcomes adversity. Ever since losing to Columbine 28-7 on Sept. 22, Chatfield has been on fire.

On Oct. 7 at Jefferson County Stadium, Chatfield defeated Golden 54-0 in its homecoming game. In their two games following their loss to Columbine, the Chargers have outscored their opponents a combined score of 106-0.

Be it with a soft touch or an overpowering kill, Chatfield senior Sierra Bartley has the skill set to be an effective, yet dominant force on the front line. Columbine knows that all too well.

Bartley is not the only force to be reckoned with fellow seniors Haley Fuller and Nicole Langford alongside junior Breanna Jones making noise on the front line. Add in the Lady Rebels’ defense with kills scattered throughout the floor in Chatfield’s 25-19, 25-15, 25-11 win Oct. 6 at Chatfield Senior High School.

If his trip to the 2015 5A state tennis championships taught Christian Holmes anything, it’s that the now-sophomore at Chatfield Senior High can hang with the top players in the state of Colorado. He did, after all, get to the state quarterfinals.